Questionnaire, part 2

If you could re-paint your bedroom, what color would you paint it?
Maybe grey.  That’s probably a reason I shouldn’t be allowed.  😉

What is something you’re proud of yourself for?
Getting good value out of my experiences and reading, in terms of having good insights and original analysis. 

Which smiley face do you like better: =] or :)?
Neither  🙂

What is something that always gets you mad?
People with much easier lives and more comfortable circumstances telling me I ought to show abject gratitude for the pittance I live on.  Somehow they consider pensioners to be personally indebted to payers of income tax. 

Would you rather be 3 inches taller or shorter than you are now? 
How about 6 inches taller?

Which do you prefer: M&M’s, Skittles, Milk Duds, or Reese’s Pieces? 
I’ve never heard of the last two.  I think I’d avoid them all.  If you want small dry sweet things, I can get you some marvellous dried cherries, mini figs or even just unsulphured pears and peaches.  Failing that, rosewater Turkish delight or some wickedly sticky dried bananas? 

Is there anything that you think smell good, but taste bad?
Men?  Ooh, did I say that?  Naughty me. 

Do you think it would be more fun to play a hero or the villain in a movie?
I think the greatest character development and complexity is in villains who become heroes.  That’s what I’d like to play. 

What was the last new food you tried? Did you like it?
Ossau-Iraty, a mild but complex-flavoured semi-hard sheep’s milk cheese from France.  About $100/kg and absolutely delicious. 

Do you ever eat when you’re not particularly hungry? 
If I’m invited to dinner.  Or sometimes when I’m fatigued or in pain and can’t tell the difference between those and hunger. 

Have you ever gone up a mountain on a train?
Um, I guess, if catching the train up to Katoomba in the Blue Mountains counts.  Is that supposed to be exciting? 

What was your imaginary friend called when you were a child? 
I had one as a teenager, called Manu. 

Can you see the stars at night where you live? 
Yes, though it’s nothing like what you see in a really remote place. 

Where do you live? 
Outer suburbs of Sydney, Australia

Is there anyone you just can’t get out of your head? 
No.  I’m emotionally free. 

One thing you’d like to achieve this year?
Get my declining health to start actually improving. 

Are you a hoarder of useless items?
No, I’m a hoarder of marginally useful items.  Isn’t that always the way? 

What color do you think suits you best? Is this your favorite color?
Grey looks great on me.  I wear little else. 

Do you know both of your biological parents? Which one do you prefer?
Prefer for what?  Weird question.  Yes, I know them. 

Do you store a lot of pictures you’ve taken that no one else has seen?
Sure. 

Do you prefer film or digital pictures?
Does anyone still use film?

Do you bump into things often?

Yeah, always have bruises I don’t remember getting. 

When did you first start using the internet?
email 1999; web 2000

Were you ever a member of the Scouts / Girl Guides / Something similar?
Yes, a church-run thing called Pathfinders, from about age 10 to 16. 

Do you prefer camping or staying in hotels?
Who’s paying?  What I can’t handle is smelly, mouldy, dusty motels.  Severe allergic reactions.  I’d rather a caravan or even a tent. 

Do you prefer lip balm that tastes or smells of something? Or maybe neither?
All natural, unflavoured, unscented.  Prioritised in that order. 

What is something you think about yourself that nobody agrees with? 
I think I could give good advice in a lot of areas just because I’m smart and perceptive and widely read.  Okay, one person agrees with me, but people generally consider him clueless.  😉 

What about something people think of you that you don’t agree with?
People assume that because I don’t have a career or travel overseas, I’ll be a dull conversationalist. 

Do you enjoy flying? What’s your (least) favorite part?
Yes.  I love being among the clouds, leaving the world behind.  I take pictures of skyscapes through the window.  People think I’m simple, or that I’ve never flown before.  Heh, let ’em. 

What color are your eyes? Do you like them?
They’re closer to dark grey than to blue, like a storm cloud.  An iridologist might say it’s an unhealthy colour, but aesthetically I think they’re just right. 

How minty is your toothpaste? 
Too minty and sweet.  But somehow my teeth are very acid-worn, so it’s goodbye health food shop toothpaste, hello Pronamel. 

Do you enjoy clowns / street performers or are they creepy to you?
Heh, ever seen a street performer around here, beyond a lonely busker?  Nah, didn’t think so.  Cultural wastelands of Sydney’s northern suburbia.  But anyway, jugglers are a bit blah, clowns are creepy, but a good busker, dancer or performer brightens my day immensely.  They’ll get my gold coin. 

Do you believe everything you hear or do you take it with a grain of salt?
I have a tendency to believe more rather than less, though of course in tune with my biases.  It’s part of a "what might be possible?’ attitude.  Watching QI and Mythbusters has made me a little more cautious though. 

What’s the weather like where you live? (All year round, not today)
Mild, somewhat damp in summer. 

Did you enjoy playing Hop Scotch when you were younger?
Nobody seemed to know how.